Alani’s heart throbbed in recognition, as she said, “Oh, sweetheart. I know it hurts really bad being without your mother. I’m so sorry you have to go through that. There will be a lot of times when you just need her and wish she was there; but let me share a secret with you about mothers and their babies. We never leave. There is nothing that will make a mother leave her child. Even after every bit of air has left our lungs, we are still with our children. You can feel her, can’t you?” Alani asked, as she pointed to Bella’s chest. “Have you ever had a decision to make that you were unsure about and a voice inside your head told you what to do?” Bella’s cries had dulled but tears flowed still, as she nodded. “That’s your mother, Bella. That’s the part of her that she planted inside you the day you were born. You want to know how I know?” Bella looked up at her. “Because I’m heartbroken too. My daughter died, and I still feel her. I still talk to her every night when I pray, and she visits me every night when I dream.” Alani was the one crying, now. They were crying together. They related to one another.

“It’s just not fair,” Bella said.

“It isn’t, and you have a right to be mad, Bella. I’m mad too and it isn’t something that anyone understands, if they haven’t been through it; but I understand, and if you ever need to talk, you know your dad is a great listener,” Alani said.

“He doesn’t get it,” Bella cried.

“Well, I know we just met, but I’m a pretty good listener too and I’d like to be friends; if that’s cool with you? One thing about me…” Alani paused to wet a paper towel as she wiped Bella’s face. “I’m a really good friend and I’m always there for my friends when they need me.”

“I’d like that,” Bella whispered.

“Now, listen. I never got to be in a debutante pageant before, and I’d love to be in it with you, if you’ll have me. We can make both my daughter and your mother happy, because I know that they will both be there with us. I know I’m not your mom, but I’d really like to experience this with you. What do you think?”

Bella rolled her eyes to the sky and then closed them, as she tried to compose herself. “I can’t believe I just embarrassed myself like that.”

“Nobody’s judging you here,” Alani said. “How about we go back in there together?”

“Okay,” Bella said.

Alani held up her finger. “One second,” she said. She pulled out her concealer and nude-colored lip gloss and applied a little bit to Bella’s face.